Week 9b: Friday, 7 November 2014

Posted by Zakumi on October 31, 2014

(1) Mini debates: Cell phones in the classroom. We'll first have a short listening exercise when reading the debate topic; then doing new vocabulary and answering a few questions about the topic; and lastly we'll enter into debate in groups of 4 students each. You have to read through the attached worksheet to make a proper comment.

(2) News by Tara. You know now how to get to the news item (I explained the route in the previous lesson). This would only take about 5 minutes of the class. A few students would be asked to tell the class about Tara's latest news bulletin. You don't have to mention this in your comment - but pse don't forget to listen to the news and familiarize yourself with it.

M - W9b - Mini debates - Cell phones in the class.pdf

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Replies

  • Longyuan November 7, 2014 6:50
    It's really a problem if one make noise in a class,espacially made by cellphones,I've seen several times when teacher get mad at it.In my oppinion,cellphones should not be used in the class unless you have something really important that need a phone call,but I'm embarrassed to say that I've done this "make teacher angry"thing through cellphones,which I tske seriously to not make this happen again.
  • Caroline November 7, 2014 4:44
    In my opinion,cell phone is a sensitive topic in the claass.For me,it is not important.I think using cell phone in the class is just an excuse for you want to play it.Because for new words we can just find it before or after class.And we can't promise we use it just for learning.We are different,so we can't promise everyone use it for learning.Maybe,control is much better.
  • fengdongli November 7, 2014 4:38
    Yse i agree with you .
  • Song Guang Xia November 7, 2014 3:58
    Cell phones in the classroom make use of widely in our school.It cause to debate on whether effect students' study. In my opinion, cell phone in the classroom,this is a good english tool.then we needn't bring the dictionaries book all the time. and we can refer to the information about our study everytime . But if there is no self-control.it may be effet on our study ,we would spend more time on the cell phone.
  • jiang dan November 7, 2014 3:48
    Nowadays,almost everybody has cell phone and never leave in hand,with the developing of technology and the booming of economy.however,the problems of cell phones in classroom is worthy of thinking for the sake of students study in class. It's unblamable that there are such bad aspects for cell phones useing in class,which abstracts the concentration on study and harasses the order of class.Although mobile phones brought convenience to our life,we should be proper use of it.
  • Hou Jialei November 7, 2014 3:09
    In my opinion,cell phone is necessary in some classes but in other lessons is not necessary.For example,in english class it is helpful for we can use it to find the words that we don't know.It is more convenient than bring a dictionary.Besides we can also check information timely in class.However,it has disadvantages.Students may play mobile games rather than listen to what teachers said.
    • Zakumi > Hou Jialei November 7, 2014 3:22

      That is true, Hou Jialei, that cell phones are useful tools in some classes, like a language class where you need a dictionary. Not all students get money for a dictionary, but all students get cell phones (the universities give them for free when they enroll, amongst others). And all cell phones these days have dictionaries on them. But, I was wondering ... I am sure all students already have their own cell phones by the time when they get to university. So, now they get a new one for free from the university (although not a good one, I understand) ... What do they do with two cell phones now?! Do they sell the new phone (as it is mostly inferior to their own phones)? Why do they then not buy themselves an e-dictionary if they know they are going to study English too? I was just wondering about that! :)

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    • Zakumi November 7, 2014 3:14

      Haha Katrina, maybe it worked for your class at Senior High, but I don't agree with that teacher that students at high school are already adults! Even at university they are mostly still immature because of the education system that places a student's emotional development about 5 to 6 years back due to the control and extensive studies during those school years. But I guess she was successful as she earned the trust of the students by trusting them with such a big responsibility. In that way she was a very smart teacher! ;-)

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    • Zakumi November 7, 2014 3:08

      I agree, students shouldn't bring their phones to the classrooms; but how does one prevent them from doing it?! The education authorities even encourage the use of cell phones by giving the students phones for free when they enroll. So, preventing them from taking it to class is now impossible. But I think the education authorities need more discipline than the students ...!

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    • Zakumi November 7, 2014 3:04

      That is also true, Zhang Ke, that most (if not all!) students are addicted to their cell phones. So, it is too late now to try to separate students from their phones. In fact, the education authorities even encourage them to have phones as they get free phones when they enroll at the universities. So, the authorities are actually to blame for the bad situation in the classrooms with phones. I think the only class that justifies the use of phones, is a language class where you can use it as dictionary. But then, of course, many students don't have sufficient self-control ...!

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